The purpose of this notice is to inform the trade community on the implementation of the Advanced Qualified Unlading Approval (AQUA) Lane program. AQUA Lane is a national pilot program to provide a benefit for qualified low-risk carriers to perform cargo operations prior to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) boarding the vessel. Beginning on December 15, 2016 a qualified carrier, or their agent, may request Aqua Lane privileges for vessels arriving in the port of Charleston, South Carolina.

In order to be eligible for AQUA lane privileges, the following conditions must be met:

The vessel carrier and terminal operator must be a certified participant in the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) Program.

The vessel stow plan must be electronically filed with CBP.

The vessel must be compliant with Agriculture requirements, to include all required certificates.

Crewmembers must remain onboard until formal CBP processing is completed

AQUA Lane requests should be made no later than 24 hours prior to arrival usingCBP Form 3171, Application to Unlade, with a notation of “AQUA Lane Requested” noted in section 9, box 5. The CBP 3171 requesting AQUA lane will be submitted electronically via email to the following addresses:

The hard copy CBP Form 3171 will continue to be submitted to the Vessel Entrance and Clearance (VEC) office no later than 48 hours prior to arrival.

Approval or denial of the AQUA lane request will be relayed to the carrier/agent electronically, normally within four business hours of receiving the request. A copy of the approved/denied

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AQUA Lane request will be held in the VEC office for attachment to the original CBP Form 3171 at the time of formal entrance.

For general questions or concerns with the AQUA Lane program, please contact Supervisory CBP Officer Blaine Bumsted at 843-727-4387. Questions regarding the status of a specific AQUA Lane requests should be directed to the Advance Targeting Office at 843-745-2690 or email to charlestonatu@cbp.dhs.gov.